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QLD dam to undergo $18M upgrade

Federal funding locked in for QLD’s $2.9B Urannah Dam

An $18 million upgrade of Queensland’s Sideling Creek Dam is moving ahead, with construction now underway.An $18 million upgrade of Queensland’s Sideling Creek Dam is moving ahead, with construction now underway.

Queensland Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy Dr Anthony Lynham said construction work will strengthen the main dam structure and spillway.

“Sideling Creek Dam was commissioned in 1957, with the wall last upgraded in 1969,” Dr Lynham said.

“Since then there have been significant advances in dam design and an improved understanding of extreme weather events.

Dr. Lynham said improvements will also be made to allow fish to pass through the downstream area, where previously they could become stranded in waterholes below the spillway.

“Upgrade work will involve excavating a pool down from the spillway and creating a passageway to help fish travel downstream,” he adds.

Queensland Government statutory authority Seqwater is also undertaking significant revegetation works in the broader catchment area and working with community groups to help improve the bushland.

The works will also allow the lake to return to its full supply level after it was lowered by two metres in 2015 to assess the condition of the dam wall and spillway.

The state government said the upgrade will not impact or interrupt water supply security for the region and on-water activities will be allowed to continue during the upgrade work.

Seqwater Acting Chief Executive Officer Dan Spiller said the upgrade project is expected to be completed by mid-2019, subject to weather and site conditions.


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